Battlelog has word that more widespread testing of the Caspian Border map will be part of the Battlefield 3 beta this weekend as they stress-test the servers for 64-player games (thanks PC Gamer). Also, the Battlefield Blog outlines the top 10 issues DICE is encountering in open beta testing of their upcoming military shooter sequel. Here's the list, straight from the home office in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

Squad issues: Cannot play with friends within same squad, squads get split up onto opposite teams, etc.
There will be improved squad functionality in the retail game (including but not limited to): the ability to create squads prior to launching into a game, sticking with your squad when joining a game and continuing together through future games (If team balance on the server allows it), inviting friends to a squad and changing squads once in game.

Regarding additional Open Beta content and fixes/patches for consoles, including PlayStation 3 issues with chat and party systems
While we would like to patch the Open Beta, DICE is currently focusing its available resources on polishing the retail game.

Can we have ability to change settings/options before deployment into match on PC?
The ability to modify your settings via the deploy screen has been added into the retail game.

Issues with terrain stability and “falling into the map” on Operation Métro
This has been fixed for the beta via a server side update.

Kill cam sometimes zooms out too far or outside the map
This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game.

A bug that sometimes keeps some players from being able to sprint
This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game.

Screen flickering/stuttering. Blue screen remains after respawn. Game locks up after deploying C4 (360)
This has been fixed for the launch of the retail game.

Downed bodies appear to be dead, but are not
The DICE team has been looking into this issue – which is caused by a combination of incidents in a confined area - and are working hard to address the issue for the launch of the retail game.

Why is the hit detection seemingly different from Battlefield: Bad Company 2?
The netcode is one of the many things that we are testing as part of the Open Beta and is not necessarily reflective of the final retail game. The DICE team appreciates and has heard the feedback you’ve provided and is further optimizing online play.

RoTide wrote on Oct 7, 2011, 17:18:But Beta tests aren't for you to "have fun" in.. No seriously.. They are to _test_ the game or the specific functions they want you to test.

But they are meant to have customizable controls. A large percentage of people cannot even "test" because they can't use their own controls. How exactly are you supposed to "test" the planes and choppers in Caspian when you can't config the joystick?

The BF3 beta is one big giant fail. Guaranteed they have lost many many pre-orders over the state of it. I've decided I'm going to keep my pre-order, just to retain the right to bitch at launch when they fuck it up...and they will fuck it up.

I keep seeing people claiming there's been some massive loss of pre-orders, yet the only "proof" they have of such was a photo-shopped image of a twitter comment that several shoddy journalists took as legitimate without bothering to check.

Not that I doubt some whiny people left because of the state of a beta, but the dissenters have been constantly trying to make it sound like it's a big thing. It's not. The 34k number passed around was something some troll pulled out of his ass.